A few days ago I skinned somebody here for holding a resentment due to a complete lack of understanding of DNC rules, taken whole cloth from a candidate’s perspective rather than the actual rules. I know my State Party (DPO) rules and a good chunk of DNC rules, but I’m a County Chair and State Delegate along with some Caucus offices and as a former US House Primary candidate I know when people are way off base. Asking questions of a Chair that are to the point and cognizant of the rules they operate under should cause no grief. I’m sure ODP rules are available on-line and you really don’t have to memorize rules, just understand them.

I’ll give an example, asking our Chair why the DPO isn’t backing incumbent “X” in a challenged primary gets the answer, “It’s against the rules,” and that’s OK but people don’t want it to be against the rules and want to exlore other reasons and the Chair isn’t going to be happy, because it is simply against the rules.

I cannot speak to the RNC & associated state parties, but being a Dem chair means one of the jobs is to be the public face of the Party and all D pols don’t fit together real well on some hot topics, so the Chair’s job is pretty complex and most Chairs do not find it in Party interest to criticixe a fellow (D) pol, even in the face of some Party stated resolutions. Our Chair wouldn’t be adverse to fielding Q’s from a Republican, in fact showing the differences is her job, but stupid question just won’t work, regardless of the affiliation behind them. Being stupidly partisan will guarantee a lack of access.

Personally, I’d encourage you to pursue getting access.

Thanks for the heads-up. I am definitely a GOPer, but as anyone who reads my blog regularly can attest, I am an equal opportunity type of guy.

I have been kicking Kasich in the a$$ as much as I have been kicking Strickland in the a$$. Basically, if I see something that I think is bull then I write about it whether it is a dem or a republican. If it is not appropriate for me to be on the call that is fine with me.

In that case my question would be this:

If you see merit in my question(s) for Mr. Redfern will you or Jill ask the question(s) for me and let me know what his answers are afterwards? Thanks! Kyle

FWIW, I’ve tried to be in touch with John McClelland over the years, more than a few times, and he NEVER ever responded to me – not even once. It’s been a while though. On the other hand, Carlo LoParo and I had a very nice and frequent back and forth with a few touchés here and there even though we knew where we stood – I think it helped both of us make our arguments stronger (also been a while since we were in contact though).

You are certainly more of a known quantity, right (though I wasn’t familiar with your name at all until doing some googling)? I’d say give it a try – it’s REALLY hard to imagine that you could do anything much worse that we might. Redfern or whomever can always say they’re not going to answer something.

If I were you, I’d email Todd Hoffman, Redfern and maybe even Doug Kelly – for sure, email and cc someone – even me, just for the record, you know? Wouldn’t want someone to say they never got the request.

Any chance “the Chairman” would let a fiscally conservative, socially moderate GOP blogger on the next call?

Kyle

http://www.plunderbund.com/2009/02/20/what-if-no-senate-2010-candidate-sought-the-odp-endorsement/